June of 2019 marked the launch of SPECTRUM, an event designed to bring together a community of changemakers working to create an inclusive impact economy. The conversations about impact, inclusion, and equity that were held within this community on two days in Atlanta were at turns inspiring, moving, and humbling. Here are a few of the insights and powerful moments that were captured by SPECTRUM attendees and shared through Twitter.
Insights and Inspiration: SPECTRUM Day One
“Love is the only word sweeter than black” @bamuthi How do the arts inform #impinv? Aesthetics are KEY. What do we find beautiful? What do we value and appreciate? What is the world we want to make? #spectrum pic.twitter.com/YW56e0AfOx
— MissionDrivenFinance (@MDFinanceSD) June 12, 2019
“Women don’t need to keep ‘leaning in’, men need to step up.” – Rohit Malhotra of @civicatlanta @SOCAPmarkets #spectrum. pic.twitter.com/yvpQvPmkeu
— Bethany (@Bethanysaid) June 12, 2019
Case for Racial Equity #Spectrum panel moderated by @EmoryGoizueta’s Professor Erika Hall sets factual foundation for empowering solutions that will close the gap— estimated at $8T by @WK_Kellogg_Fdn. pic.twitter.com/YPsO3DLyUq
— Social Enterpise @ Goizueta (@SocEntGoizueta) June 12, 2019
If we closed the economic gaps for POCs by 2020 (literally just bringing them economically on par with non-Hispanic whites), we would add $8 trillion to the economy. That’s larger than the average GDP of every country except the US and China. –@AniTurner1 @SOCAPmarkets #SPECTRUM
— Alex West Steinman (@alwitchsteinman) June 12, 2019
Work needs to be based on our own values, history and experience + leave a legacy of opportunity – Jessica Stago @native_startup #SPECTRUM @SOCAPmarkets @ConsciousCoMag
— Lindsay Smalling (@LindsaySmalling) June 12, 2019
Those of us with the power have to get closer to the people with the pain, because they’re the ones that have the solutions to the problems. @TwannaHarris #Spectrum @SOCAPmarkets
— David Lynn (@davidalynn) June 12, 2019
#Spectrum theme: don’t presume overlooked-underestimated communities don’t know what to do. Don’t impact AT them, impact WITH them. @native_startup @LisaYancey Heard this in #OpportunityZones talks too “Don’t come in saying you’ll save the Barrio. We don’t need to be saved.” pic.twitter.com/BNu0JSPuG3
— MissionDrivenFinance (@MDFinanceSD) June 12, 2019
Day Two
Thoughtful and powerful: @tyboyea onstage at @SOCAPmarkets #Spectrum calling out “the maximization of profits” can hurt communities but the “maximization of returns” can free investors to amplify their values and their $ value
— Valor Ventures (@valorvc) June 13, 2019
We have to have a culture of thinking bigger and the privilege to fail. –@joeydigital @SOCAPmarkets #SPECTRUM
— Alex West Steinman (@alwitchsteinman) June 13, 2019
“It’s upon us to not only have good intentions. We’re at a time for action.” We need to step up our support for founders/investors/entrepreneurs of color in #Atlanta. Amazing lineup @SOCAPmarkets #SPECTRUM pic.twitter.com/KugToMWzkB
— Ryan Gravel (@ryangravel) June 13, 2019
Last night’s Civic Dinner was electrifying!!⚡️✨ Magic happened with 10 of us around the table talking about Love & Humanity in Business after day 1 of #SPECTRUM And huge kudos to chef of Cooks & Soldiers for treating us to such a wonderful meal! @SOCAPmarkets @ConsciousCoMag pic.twitter.com/LdOIxcLbd1
— Jenn Graham (@AhaStrategy) June 13, 2019
Traditional VCs bring a lot of biases into their assessments of entrepreneurs’ “worthiness.” Pattern matching – conscious or unconscious – is about minimizing risk, but often it becomes code for “How much do you look like me?” @ReinventureCap @SunTrust @SOCAPmarkets #spectrum
— Cameron White (@cameronewhite) June 13, 2019
It’s not enough to have good intentions, it’s a daily practice of lowering barriers and making accessible onramps. 1st year @valorvc most of the entrepreneurs that came in the door were white males, so built @Startup_Runway to develop diverse pipeline @lisa_calhoun #spectrum
— MissionDrivenFinance (@MDFinanceSD) June 13, 2019
So many great stories of #access #inclusion #impact at @SOCAPmarkets #SPECTRUM event @GatheringSpots #Atlanta > check out angel investor and entrepreneur @jewelmelanie of @Partpic pic.twitter.com/lVWbONefzQ
— Ryan Gravel (@ryangravel) June 13, 2019
Good to see friends @TwannaHarris @JAY4HOPE speaking truth, standing up for narrators, and encouraging equity through an inclusive impact economy. #SPECTRUM @SOCAPmarkets @ConsciousCoMag Looking fwd to the convo at #JustOpportunitySummit next week. https://t.co/3wGCnnOEzR pic.twitter.com/1BoYwrF7TY
— Partnership for Southern Equity (@PSEquityMatters) June 13, 2019
Philanthropy is often paternalistic and we need community focused businesses to have capital that empowers -Jay Bailey @rcie_atlanta @SOCAPmarkets #SPECTRUM pic.twitter.com/oiobCLSj1c
— Tynesia Boyea (@tyboyea) June 13, 2019
Once I embraced my story I understand that my unique experiences helped me solve a unique challenge -Frederick Hutson @pigeon_ly #spectrum @SOCAPmarkets pic.twitter.com/jGZAaiordd
— Tynesia Boyea (@tyboyea) June 13, 2019
Keep the SPECTRUM Conversation Going
SPECTRUM will be returning to Atlanta in 2020! Join the conversation about equity, access, inclusion, and impact at the SPECTRUM June 9 – 11, 2020. Learn more and get your tickets here.
Related Resources
- Atlanta’s Equity Champion and Leading Social Entrepreneur Joey Womack is Issuing You a Challenge: Increase Access, Inclusion, and Impact
- Hope for All Humanity: A Conversation about Racial Equity with Nadia Brigham
- Watch: Advancing Racial Equity, a SOCAP video series featuring conversations with leaders in the movement.
